South Okanagan General Hospital (File photo)
Starting on April 1, doctors will be on-call instead of on location overnight at the South Okanagan General Hospital (SOGH) emergency department.
The emergency department will continue to be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, Interior Health stated, but a physician will be called from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. to respond to emergencies, rather than remaining on location for an entire shift.
The physician will be called in for “true emergencies,” Interior Health said, or patients under the age of 17.
Patients with time-sensitive, but less serious conditions will have to go to the Penticton Regional Hospital Emergency Department, by ambulance or private vehicle.
Patients whose conditions that are not time-sensitive will be given the option of remaining in the waiting room, returning in the morning, or scheduling an appointment with their family physician.
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“During these nighttime hours, all patients will be able to access the emergency department, and will continue to be assessed by an emergency room nurse, just as they would during the day,” Interior Health said. “A physician on-call will be at the hospital or close by and available at all times to respond to emergency care needs.”
During the busier daytime hours (6 a.m. to 10 p.m.), a physician will continue to be on location at the emergency department for all patient visits.
Patients who are unsure of their needs can also dial 8-1-1 to speak to a registered nurse.
“The interim staffing adjustment will be closely monitored and is part of ongoing work by Interior Health, local emergency physicians, and the SOS Division of Family Practice towards improving and sustaining local access to health services,” Interior Health said.
